Wisconsin board approves land sale to Kestrel

BRUNSWICK — An aircraft manufacturer once slated to build airplanes and create jobs in Brunswick is moving closer to putting that operation in Wisconsin.

According to the Superior Telegram of Superior, Wis., the Land and Development Committee of Douglas County, Wis., voted unanimously on Tuesday to sell 13 acres of the county fairgrounds to Kestrel Aircraft for construction of a 50,000-square-foot manufacturing facility.

The news came just weeks after Alan Klapmeier, Kestrel’s chief executive officer, confirmed that the company was considering building airplanes in Superior instead of in Brunswick.

Either way, Kestrel will keep its manufacturing and repair operation, Kestrel Aeroworks, at Brunswick Landing for at least seven years, a condition of receiving funding from the U.S. Treasury’s New Market Tax Credit program.

In addition to land at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, which would reportedly be sold to Kestrel for $500,000, Klapmeier said the city of Superior is planning to issue a $2.4 million bond on behalf of the company and donate land in its industrial park.

The Wisconsin newspaper also reported that construction could begin in Superior as early as June 1.

Steve Levesque, executive director of Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, said Wednesday there is nothing to report on possible new funding for Kestrel in Maine.